T'puram: Former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala criticised the state govt for the recent power tariff hike and alleged that power brokers were behind it.
Chennithala stated that the Pinarayi Vijayan govt imposed an additional burden of Rs 7,500cr on the people through the power tariff hike. "The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is ready to provide electricity at a lower rate, yet the govt is acting in favour of the Adanis," Chennithala alleged.
It is reported that NPCIL and Neyveli Lignite Corporation indicated during discussions with KSEB that they could provide electricity at a rate of Rs 4 to Rs 5. Given the possibility, the decision to purchase electricity at Rs 9 to Rs 14 suggests significant corruption and exploitation. The cancellation of lower-rate contracts was to purchase electricity at higher prices from major corporate companies like Adani Power and Jindal. If the lower-rate contracts were implemented, the public could have been spared of additional burden, said Chennithala.
After cancelling long-term contracts priced at Rs 4.29 per unit, three short-term contracts were awarded to Adani at higher rates in April and May 2024, which Chennithala claimed involved significant corruption. In April, a contract for 150 megawatts was given at Rs 8.59 per unit. The second contract, also in April, for 50 megawatts was priced at Rs 10.25 per unit, and in May, a third deal for 50 megawatts was given at Rs 14.03 per unit.
Adani's proposal for a long-term contract is under govt consideration. The govt has temporarily refrained from making Adani a long-term partner only due to the ongoing controversy. The electricity minister was challenged to a debate on this issue. He claims he is unaware of the contract signing. If he is unaware, why is he in the ministerial position, Chennithala asked.
He questioned whether the govt was ignoring the long-term contract for electricity usage brought by former power minister Aryadan Muhammed eight years ago. For whom did the govt cancel the contract signed by the electricity department when Aryadan was the minister, he asked.
The govt committed corruption, and the electricity minister and the chief minister are responsible for it. The govt is acting to ensure private companies make windfall profits. The same person who prepared the contract when Aryadan was the minister has now taken the initiative to cancel it. The minister is evading responsibility by blaming the board and the regulatory commission, Chennithala said.